Writing these
posts has become somewhat of an important routine for me and, I hope, just an
important routine for you to read. Yet they are also demanding, since there is
not always a topic (yes, I know that memories are many) handy. So, I invited my
friend Cheito (Our own endearing diminutive for Joseph) from Hialeah
Hola!!
It feels pretty good to be invited to write something here … no one usually
ever gives a flying hoot as to what I say, much less what I think. But now,
maybe this little posting (sounds just like
the cereal I eat while my Cachita makes my eggs and chorizo in the mornings …)
will take me to fame and fortune… My friend Rafa tells me just to say, in a
decent way you know… whatever comes to mind. Actually, it makes me feel pretty
good he thinks I have one.
Man,
life in this country of ours is getting tougher by the day. Just got laid off… guess
this is a fancy way to say got my a… kicked out… just trying to be decent,
yu’know… don‘t want this to be my only shot at infamy and misfortune … sumtin’
to do while the stamps come in… Man, that’s goin’ to be a busy office, with me
and my other 12 amigos that got laid off showing up along with all the regulars who're already there …
The
other day I was driving my little Felicita (my
10 year old angel) to practice. She plays sofbol … I don't know if that's right, it just sounded
like that when she said it too fast, at this school where she goes in Hialeah
Joe
the grocery man keeps telling us that whatever we buy on stamps, he gotta
charge more for. Somethin’ about not getting paid on time from the gov’ment and
having to wait too long for his money. But it’s OK if we pay for cigarettes and
beer with these papers, just that he gotta discount the value. Fancy talkin’ for
the corner guy, huh? All I know I had to give him $20 worth of stamps to pay
for $10 worth of goodies we needed… he says he takes all the risks and doing
this will cost (us, for sure) more money.
All
I know is that a few years ago, mi Cachita was working at the factory and I was
doing many jobs … all for cash money you know … better that way with taxes and
all that stuff I don’t know about… we were doing OK. We bought this little apartment and I could even take her sometimes to her favorite restaurant to have
picadillo with rice and beans… followed by a flan, and then have a couple of
beers while we listened to Pepito play and sing some boleros. Nice huh?? It was really romantic and set the mood …
well, you know… Man, now we can’t even afford to say hola to the new guy who
bought the place from Pepito’s papito… He doesn’t serve Cuban food no more… now he
serves something called “Specialty Latin Cuisine” and doubled the prices.
Funny, I read the menu the other day and it sounded like it was the same old
rice and picadillo, ‘cept now it said something like “exquisitely seasoned ground beef on a bed of fluffy white rice,
accompanied by a delightful blend of tropical beans and a side of sweet bananas,
tasty and perfectly fried”… Sheesh! Sounded like doubletalk to me!! And expensive!!
I
dunno… I have to learn all that fancy talk and maybe I can call myself “Well seasoned and multiple experienced
jobber who will bring to the transitory position a balanced approach of
accomplishment while at the same time, being able to manage time efficiently so
as to multiply the hours dedicated to the task at hand” How’s that for a
presentation? I asked my friend Rafa to write that for me to copy… well, what
do you want from me? Miracles? … You think I could charge $15 an hour with that
description? I gotta do sumtin’ because my Cachita’s beginning to get mad. She
says we need more money and more things. I don’t know what to do.
My
car is breaking down and all the parts cost so much money … I know I can get
Juanito my neighbor to fix it for a few dollars, I fixed the kitchen plumbing
for him last month, but he told me to buy all the parts. Guess I’m going to see
Pedro, the parts man. He owns an old beat up garage down the road, but
sometimes he can get parts if we tell him ahead of time. Funny, his prices are
lower than anybody else’s, some people say nasty things about him. Something
about stolen parts and stuff… I dunno, but all I know is that I need to have my
car working… and don’t have the money to take it to a funny name garage. I have
to be able to take my little angel to play sofbol…
I’m
not a fancy writin’ guy. I’m just mad that everybody wants some of my money and
nobody is willing to do things the right way. Who cares about some fancied up
guys who spend all their time in them fancy places in South
Beach Cuba
Well,
I gotta go get in line at the agency. They are funny; come early so you can get
in line and wait all day… but then, somethin’s better’n nothing!! Hey!!
… Be careful of them politicos,
they sure talk nice’n fancy and make a big deal about stuff while saying
nothin’ new … just like the new guy at
the restaurant and his funny looking menu… all those fancy words to talk about
the same rice and beans while charging twice the cost…
Have
fun!! Gotta Go!!
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